A new video showing a comedian's battle with an anti-vaxxer is going viral on Twitter and TikTok after the anti-vaxxer showed a very strange understanding of the words "free speech."
The video comes from comedian and YouTuber Walter Masterson, who frequently attends right-wing rallies and community meetings to interview attendees on their views. A recent conversation he had—or tried to have—with an anti-vaxxer went seriously sideways.
When the anti-vaxxer began pontificating about "free speech" and then belligerently shut Masterson down for attempting to correctly define the phrase, Masterson's reaction to the moment was instantly relatable.
See the video below.
WARNING: NSFW language
Anti-Vaxxer explains \u201cFreedom of Speech\u201d in the most ironic way possible.pic.twitter.com/ThZNeHQ5V9— Walter Masterson (@Walter Masterson) 1647874394
Masterson captioned his video "Anti-Vaxxer explains 'Freedom of Speech' in the most ironic way possible," and he couldn't have worded it better.
As so often happens with right-wing anti-vaxxers, the agitated anti-vaxxer, whom several people have identified as Proud Boys member Randy Ireland, began defending his view by pontificating about free speech.
When he appeared to begin launching into the usual right-wing definition of free speech--the right to say whatever you want whenever you want without consequences--Masterson interrupted to give the real definition of free speech as written in the Constitution.
"Freedom of speech means the government doesn't get involved."
The anti-vaxxer then exploded, immediately and belligerently shutting Masterson down with an intolerant tirade.
"Shut your fu*king mouth, because I'm not asking you what freedom of speech is, okay?!"
Masterson then turned to the camera with a desultory look of pure disbelief that said it all as Alanis Morissette's "Ironic" played.
Masterson's definition is of course absolutely correct. The Constitution's definition of free speech as written in the First Amendment states:
"Congress shall make no law... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press..."
Since Masterson, or any other citizen, does not constitute "Congress," their push-back against another person's opinion does not constitute an infringement of their free speech.
But of course not a single day goes by that a conservative doesn't make the argument that their Constitutional rights are being tyrannically quashed simply by dint of the fact that someone disagrees with them.
So naturally, Masterson's video had people alternately laughing and shaking their heads.
Tell me you don\u2019t know anything about the 1st Amendment without telling you don\u2019t know.— Claura Derns (@Claura Derns) 1647874712
They are always so wrong but with such conviction.— Claura Derns (@Claura Derns) 1647874745
You couldn't stage this and have it be more perfect.https://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— TizzyEnt (@TizzyEnt) 1647875435
I once had a right winger try to tell me free speech meant that you can't criticize them for their voiced opinions.— J Allen \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@J Allen \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1647885612
Former Proud Boy, Randy Ireland, demonstrates how the Right Wing practices "Free Speech"https://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— New York City Antifa (@New York City Antifa) 1647894397
Walter, your face response \nis priceless and all of us. \nWe need a gif.— \ud83e\udd66\ud83e\udd8b#blue jean24 \u24cb \ud83c\udf31\ud83c\udf34\ud83c\udfa5 \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf3b (@\ud83e\udd66\ud83e\udd8b#blue jean24 \u24cb \ud83c\udf31\ud83c\udf34\ud83c\udfa5 \ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83d\udc89\ud83c\udf3b) 1647874675
Need a laugh? https://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— Kathy Griffin (@Kathy Griffin) 1647883063
Watching people who have no idea what freedom of speech is, trying to explain what freedom of speech is, is always good for a few giggles. They\u2019re wrong, but they\u2019re wrong with conviction.https://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— Jax Persists (@Jax Persists) 1647879350
Buffooneryhttps://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— Danny (@Danny) 1647884056
In Anti-Vaxxer news - \u201cFreedom of speech is \u2014 you shut the fuq up.\u201d \n\n#antivaxxer \n#FreeSpeech \n#Anonymous\n#covid #funnyhttps://twitter.com/waltermasterson/status/1505920474752159751\u00a0\u2026— D\u03b1\u0438\u03b9 \u03b1\u043a\u03b1 \u0432\u0454\u2113\u2113\u03b1 (@D\u03b1\u0438\u03b9 \u03b1\u043a\u03b1 \u0432\u0454\u2113\u2113\u03b1) 1647877437
Anyway it will surely be not time at all before scores of conservatives miss the point entirely and begin sharing Masterson's video as an example of the left's assault on free speech. Sigh.